Cariniana rubra Gardner ex Miers

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. & Mori, S. A. 1979. Lecythidaceae - Part I. The actinomorphic-flowered New World Lecythidaceae (Asteranthos, Gustavia, Grias, Allantoma & Cariniana). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-270. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cariniana rubra Gardner ex Miers

  • Type

    Type. Gardner 3743, Brazil, Goias, Natividade, fl (holotype, BM; isotypes, CGE, K, OXF).

  • Synonyms

    Couratari rubra Gardner ex Miers, Cariniana carajarum Toledo

  • Description

    Description - Tree to 15.0 m tall, the young branches glabrescent, not conspicuously lenticellate. Leaves with laminas elliptic, 10.5-16.0 cm long, 4.0-7.3 cm broad, the margins crenulate, gradually tapered to apex from below or at midpoint, acuminate at apex, the acumen 9.0-15.0 mm long, curved, rounded to subcuneate at base, slightly decurrent onto petiole, glabrous beneath; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath, sparsely puberulous on both surfaces, becoming glabrous with age; primary veins 24-30 pairs, prominulous on both surfaces, 2.0-5.0 mm apart at base, with distinct domatia at junction with midrib and primary veins, the domatia with a small pilose tuft of hair; petioles 7.0-10.0 mm long, slightly winged, sparsely puberulous when young. Inflorescences terminal and subterminal racemose panicles, to 25.0 cm long, the rachis and branches sparsely puberulous, not crustaceous, sparingly lenticellate; pedicels ca 0.5 mm long. Calyx ca 2.5 mm long, turbinate, the lobes triangular, sparsely puberulous on exterior. Petals obovate, ca 8.0 mm long, red. The androecium ca 2.0 mm in diameter, with numerous (over 50) stamens on filaments inserted all over the inner surface. Style very short, ovary trilocular. Pyxidium 7.0 cm long, 4.0-4.5 cm maximum diameter at apex, slightly costate and warted on exterior, the calycine ring 1.5 cm below apex, broadest at the ring, the pericarp thick, 1.3 cm thick at apex, smooth without teeth at line of opercular dehiscence. Operculum 2.0-2.5 cm diameter at apex.

  • Discussion

    Cariniana rubra is very closely related to C. domestica and may ultimately prove to be part of that species. However, it is distinct in a number of small but well correlated characters, and is also only partially sympatric with C. domestica. Cariniana rubra as defined here is different from the circumscription of Knuth (1939b) who separated C. rubra and C. domestica entirely on the corolla color; white in C. domestica, and red in C. rubra. That distinction is quite artificial since both red and white petals occur in domestica. The difference between the two species as defined are listed in Table XIII below. Carini-ana rubra differs from C. domestica mainly in the large leaves of a slightly different shape.

    [TABLE] Table XIII Differences between Cariniana rubra and domestica Character C. domestica C. rubra Leaf shape Leaves tapering to apex from above midpoint Leaves tapering to apex from well below midpoint Leaf length 6.0-12.0 cm 10.5-16.0 cm No. Primary veins 19-25 pairs 24-29 pairs Pyxidium Exterior not warted Exterior warted

    Cariniana carajarum, which was described from some empty pyxidia used by the Carajá Indians as pipes, is synonymous with C. rubra. There is no difference at all to separate C. carajarum.

  • Common Names

    cachimbeira, cachimbo-de-macaco, Jequitibá

  • Distribution

    Known only from the States of Goias and Mato Grosso, Brazil. Collected in flower January-March, fruiting around June.

    Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America|